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Indexed News on:

--the California "Mega-Park" Project

Tracking measurable success on efforts across California to preserve and connect our Parks & Wildlife CorridorsWE POST NEWS THREE WAYS:1. long detailed stories on blogspot (here!)2. short messages on Twitter3. automated news feeds from CA enviro websites in the right-hand column which change frequently and are not archived by our website (that's why we now have a twitter account to permanently capture the memorable feeds)

11/8/2010 SMMC--Consideration of resolution authorizing a comment letter to the City of Santa Clarita on Draft One Valley One Vision General Plan and Draft Program Environmental Impact Report, Santa Clarita and unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Map] [Attachment] [Comment Letter] [Resolution]

12/1/2010 MRCA--Consideration of resolution authorizing: (a) acceptance of dedication of all or a portion of APNs 3208-009-003 and 3208-009-007; (b) if necessary to enter into an agreement with parcel donor to allow retention of mitigation rights, and (c) acceptance of processing fees, Bobcat Canyon tributary of Soledad Canyon, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map]

Consideration of resolution authorizing: (a) acceptance of dedication of all or a portion of APN 3208-045-212; (b) if necessary to enter into an agreement with parcel donor to allow retention of mitigation rights, and (c) acceptance of processing fees, Acton area of Soledad Canyon, unincorporated Los Angeles County. [Staff Report] [Resolution] [Map 1] [Map 2]
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IN THE L.A. PORTION OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS:

11/8/2010 SMMC--Consideration of resolution approving the City of Los Angeles’ use of Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Trust Fund funds for the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority’s acquisition of six parcels located at the southwest corner of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Mulholland Drive, City of Los Angeles. [Staff Report]

11/3/2010 MRCA--Consideration of resolution entering into a grant agreement with the State Coastal Conservancy and acceptance of the grant funds for construction of the Malibu Road Public Access project. [Staff Report] [Resolution]

12/1/2010 MRCA--Consideration of resolution authorizing a grant to the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for demolition and site preparation for the Compton Creek-Washington Elementary School Natural Park. [Staff Report] [Resolution]

Catching a glimpse of the water surrounding The City can be challenging at times with tall buildings blocking the view.

Seven miles of trails snake through San Francisco streets and open space, offering plenty of unobstructed views of the Bay and ocean. Not all portions of the Bay Area Ridge Trail through The City, though, accomplish this goal.

The area along Aquavista Way, on the west side of Twin Peaks, doesn’t offer sights that live up to its name. It is an oversight the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council is working to change.

The Bay Area Ridge Trail is 400 consecutive miles of trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use created two decades ago to expose residents to the Bay in all surrounding counties. But the highest point of The City’s seven-mile portion of the trail misses the mark.

According to Bern Smith, South Bay trail director with the council, when the trail was created, organizers decided to avoid the peaks, which would have offered a 360-degree view but also a steeper climb.

“You’re walking right on the side,” he said, “not one or two blocks from Twin Peaks.”

Though changes may be years off, Smith said, discussions could propel the project forward. Smith said ideas include improving existing trails and creating one lane of pavement for vehicles while opening a second to foot traffic.

San Francisco’s portion of the trail begins at Fort Funston and winds north through city streets — around Twin Peaks — and many parks. North of Twin Peaks, hikers and bikers are led through Buena Vista Park, the Panhandle and along Arguello Boulevard to the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Craig Dawson, executive director of the Mount Sutro Stewards, said increasing access for city-dwellers to their favorite open space is part of the goal.

“The conceptual idea goes back a decade,” he said. “Now, though, there is a movement to gain greater connectivity in green corridors and off urban streets. We’re on the rise again.”

xDon't worry, we absolutely promise NOT to overwhelm your email box with posts. But we thought you would like to know what we are up to, and snail mail is just way too expensive and usually way too slow. So here is our attempt to stay connected with you and keep you update on local conservation and planning issues. Hope you like it!You may even want to Forward this message to a friend.A Holiday Gift from our Planning Agencies?Every year as the holidays approach it seems that the number of large projects moving through the City and the County public planning process increase in number. One can only surmise that this phenomena is due to a hope on the part of developers that the public will be busy with friends, family and holiday cheer and thus not paying attention to local politics and land use planning.This year is no exception. The City has just begun the public process for theVista Canyonhttp://www.santa-clarita.com/Index.aspx?page=672 project in the Sand Canyon area. Although the County would only allow 700 units in its jurisdiction for this project, the City is proposing to annex it and nearly double the number of units to 1350. So much for the City’s line that it is the County that continues to approve so many housing units. Comments on the draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) were due by Dec. 3, 2010. The hearings themselves will continue into next year.This project will fill the flood plan and requires a general plan amendment at the very time the City is updating its general plan. Why is a project that requires a general plan amendment being rushed through right before this extensive plan revision? One can only wonder.Mission Village, the 4400 unit second tract in Newhall Ranch received its first hearing on Wednesday, Nov.10th. Landmark Village, the 1444 unit first phase has still not been approved, and neither project has received permission to alter the Santa Clara River in this sensitive area west of I-5, but the county is moving forward. The comment period was extended to Jan 4th, with a final hearing scheduled for March 16th.One Valley One Vision, (which really must not be one valley or one vision because there are two gigantic and separate planning documents), is also underway. With hearings set before both the City(comment period previously closed Dec 22nd, but the Planning Commission extended the comment period for another 45 days after our request at its Tuesday hearing that lasted until after midnight) and theCounty(comment period closes Jan 24th, hearing Dec 8th) on these two separate plans. The public is expected to review thousands of pages in each document. The City will give you a free disc of the Plan and Draft Environmental Impact report for your holiday reading pleasure, available upon request at City Hall.The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) was written to ensure the public’s knowledge, views and concerns would be included in the planning process. Undisclosed problems brought to the attention of the decision-makers and requirements that would reduce impacts of new development on the environment and the community have resulted in better projects because of this law.It appears that between these four projects, the public is expected to review some 60,000 to 70,000 pages immediately before and during the holiday period. Because of the importance of public involvement in the planning process, Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment (SCOPE) has asked both the City and County to extend the comment period on these four projects into the new year. If you would like to help us participate in any of these project reveiws, just send an email to exec@scope.org.